BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST*By Pastor Joel Finck

BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST *
*By Pastor Joel Finck*
*
Scripture Reading: Romans 6:3 & 4

It is truly sad that one of the most precious truths of Scripture is
also one of the least understood. The truth we are referring to is the
believer's identification with Christ.

In today's text (Rom. 6:3, 4) we read of our baptism into Christ.
Unfortunately, most commentators, and therefore most Christians, do not
understand the true meaning of "baptism." To these, baptism always means
"water," but the original word actually means "identification. " This can
be demonstrated from I Corinthians 10:2, "And were all baptized unto
Moses in the cloud and in the sea." The children of Israel were not made
wet in the sea, but they were identified with Moses' leadership through
the Red Sea experience.

Likewise, when we trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ,
the Holy Spirit baptizes (identifies) us into the Body of Christ (I Cor.
12:13). This is why Romans 6:3 says we "were baptized (identified) into
his death." This means Christ's death for our sins is made effective in
our life. Next, we are identified with His burial ("buried with him by
baptism into death" Rom. 6:4a). When Christ's human body laden with the
sins of the world was put away in that tomb, its as though we were
there, too. Finally, we are identified with His resurrection "that like
as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so
we should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4b).

How tragic that many Christians miss these blessed truths, and
substitute a man-made water ceremony for true, spiritual baptism.